11) FOR * ALL * RESCUE DOGS: Honest Self Assessments Prior to Adoption - Part 1 of 9: Assessing Reasons for Surrender.

🐕 VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE NOTE: the following blog articles are dedicated to ALL RESCUE DOGS... whether they be a U.K, Romanian, or overseas rescue dog...

If you have been reading our "ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS" section, then ALL forthcoming blog articles, including this one, serve as a continuation... 🐕

Before we move on to consider your personal & family suitability, together with your home & garden environments, we feel it necessary to look at some typical examples of reasons for surrender back to rescue. So, in part 1 of our new blog series, this blog, we will discuss & consider this issue.

It's a really good idea to consider these reasons now to help you with your decision making, & to honestly assess your own personal suitability to rehome a rescue dog. Your mindset, approach & willingness to learn are very important considerations, too.

Some of these examples might seem really sad or upsetting but it's a really good idea to consider how you would feel about each one. Would you for example, be upset if the dog chewed or damaged furniture or other items in the home? Would you be upset or impatient if toilet training took up to six months?

Being prepared that a new dog will need training as well as time, love, patience, support & understanding will go a long way. No dog will ever turn up perfect but they can become perfect for us, over time, if we put the time, work & effort in.

So, here are some examples of why some people might surrender a new dog...

🐶🐕 Our Own Expectations:

* The dog appears to be too much hard work compared to a previous dog.

* The dog is bigger than expected.

* The dog is generally not as expected (for whatever reason).

* The dog obviously requires some lifestyle changes but the adopters were expecting a dog to work around them & their lifestyle.

* The dog isn't acclimatising to their new environment & family lifestyle fast enough.

* The dog is struggling to grasp toilet training & progress is slow.

🐶🐕 The Reality/The Dogs Character:

* The adopter is feeling overwhelmed & unable to cope with the dog & their behaviour.

* The dog appears too stubborn (which we prefer to call "independent" in the context of Romanian dogs) & won't listen to commands.

* The dog is strong &/or very reactive to other dogs, particularly on walks. The dog might bark at cars & bikes &/or lunge at them.

* The dog has growled, nipped or bitten.

* The dog barks too much.

* The dog resource guards food, water, beds &/or toys.

* The dog doesn't like to be walked or is too scared to be walked. Or the dog doesn't like to be walked in the dark. (This might apply more to Romanian & overseas dogs).

* The dog doesn't like to be left on their own at all or doesn't like to be left alone for long periods. The dog might disturb the neighbours whilst you're out.

* The dog is focussed on one person, believing it is their job to guard them.

* The dog has a high prey drive. (This might apply more to Romanian & overseas dogs).

* The dog is exhibiting a higher level of intelligence than expected, for example the dog can open doors, kitchen cupboards, & can access the kitchen worktop. (This might apply more to Romanian & overseas dogs).

* The dog appears to be fearful, nervous, shy, timid, or distrustful.

* The dog is too confident &/or dominant.

* The dog appears to have unforeseen or unwanted medical issues.

* The dog doesn't seem to like visitors in the home.

* The dog chews things that they shouldn't chew, for example furniture & shoes. The dog is damaging items around the home, doors for example.

🐶🐕 Assimilation into Family Life:

* The dog is not getting on with other dogs or pets in the home, or with a newly introduced dog or pet in the home.

* The dog is not getting on with a human family member, new family member or guests. Perhaps they don't seem to like children.

🐶🐕 Lifestyle Changes & Change of Circumstances:

* The adopter feels that they can't go on holiday as the dog does not react well in kennels.

* The adopter is moving house & cannot take the dog (for whatever reason).

* A new baby is on the way, so the adopter is seeking to rehome the dog.

* The adopter no longer has time for the dog.

* The adopter is getting divorced & can no longer keep the dog.

* The adopter has become poorly or disabled.

* The adopter has lost their job & money is now a concern.

Have you decided which of these reasons you feel are acceptable to surrender a dog back into rescue?

Perhaps grab a pen & paper & take a note of which seem acceptable & why.

Now, let's look at these reasons from a different angle. Please bear with us if this seems a bit repetitive, if you've read our "ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS" section. It's very important to clarify & re-clarify all these points here in the context of this discussion.

Before we go any further, it's necessary for us to mention the 3, 3, 3 rule here. The 3 days, 3 weeks & 3 months rule sets out to determine the stages at which a dog decompresses, acclimatises, unpacks their baggage & settles in. Please see the infographic included below. However, depending on the individual dog, this may take more or less time. So, the 3, 3, 3 rule could become 4, 4, 4 or 5, 5, 5 & so forth. Always allow several months or longer for your new dog to settle in. The timescale is determined by your new dog & you should allow them all the time THEY need!

How your new dog is in the earlier days isn't necessarily indicative of how they will be in 3 months or 6 months time. So allow them the time to settle in, blossom & thrive - all at THEIR own pace!

Please always keep the 3, 3, 3 rule in mind.

To put this in context, when a person decides to surrender their dog back to rescue, this usually occurs within days or weeks of adopting them. Quite honestly this just isn't enough time to judge a new dog or their suitability, particularly a rescue dog.

I won't lie, the first three to several months might prove to be a bit difficult & challenging, but they also might not. Please try to stick by the dog, they've already been through enough, particularly a dog rescued from Romania. Remember their unique back story. They might have been rescued from a public shelter where they've been very poorly treated & starved, for example. It's our job to show them that humans can be kind & compassionate & to give them a chance at happiness.

So, I digressed slightly, but I think you get the point. Give them time & don't judge them too quickly.

Next, we need to question our own expectations & decide whether we can adapt our expectations if reality doesn't match up.

Your new dog might be bigger than expected, but does it matter?! Your new dog might be harder work than your previous dog was. Well, they are all different just like people. Can you adapt & be more patient? Can you do some reading & research to see what more you could be doing? Are you willing to do whatever it takes & give the dog time, patience & understanding?

We've already said that the dog that arrives will be very different in three to several month's time. Your new dog might initially appear fearful & scared, exhausted from travel or from having been in noisy kennels. The dog might appear grumpy. Please bear in mind that they may never have lived in a home before, particularly in the case of a Romanian rescue dog. Plus, they need time to decompress, acclimatise, unpack their baggage & settle in. Remember the 3, 3, 3 rule. There will be lots of overwhelming new sights, smells & noises etc. From our experience, some examples include: the tv might seem initially frightening, as well as the sight & sound of the vacuum cleaner or fans. It's up to us to reassure them as we would a scared child, guide them & train them. In time, they will get used to their new environment.

Really take the time to get to know your new dog's character & personality with a patient & understanding mindset, realising that the trueness of their character may take three to several months to emerge. If they growl at you, rather than be upset, try to understand why & understand that they have just given you a gentle warning. Never ignore that warning or you might be at risk of getting bitten. Put the growl in context. What was the dog doing at the time, what were you doing at the time & why did they growl? Perhaps you went too close whilst they were eating their precious food. Remember some dogs might never have had such lovely food or regular mealtimes. In Romania, for example, they likely had to scavenge for food, often went hungry &/or had to fight over food. So if they seem food possessive, it's to be expected & is quite normal for any rescue dog - it's a basic survival instinct, in fact. It isn't their fault that they feel this way. Humans have put them in this position. Just know that in time, the dog will grow more comfortable & relaxed in their new surroundings, they will realise that food is plentiful, & they will grow to love the stranger that you are currently.

It's also worth remembering at this point that, in the case of Romanian & overseas rescue dogs, they are not your average dog & are very different to their UK rescue dog counterparts. You could describe them as an entirely breed unto themselves, in fact. They are the sum total of their life & life experiences prior to rescue - good & bad. These dogs have had to endure so much to survive. They have developed 'street smarts' & might appear quite intelligent & quirky. Give them understanding here & never underestimate them or their abilities, nor their capability to adapt to becoming a much loved family pet.

With regards to UK rescue dogs, they are also the sum total of their life & life experiences prior to rescue - good & bad. Your new dog might be an ex-breeding dog, they might have had multiple owners before you, &/or they might have suffered the upset of abandonment.

If you're aware of the dog's breed or predicted breed mix, read up on those breeds to understand the common personality traits of the breed. For example, some Romanian breeds are working dogs, guardian & herding breeds. This may explain some behaviours & help you to better understand the dog.

With regards to personal & family circumstances, we will touch upon these in our next few blogs in this series. However, at this point it would be a good idea to consider how you would cope with the dog should circumstances change. Plus, think about whether you envisage any changes to circumstances in the next five to ten years or so. Some dogs can live up to 20 years old, so please consider the time commitment carefully before choosing to adopt.

Have you changed your mind about what reasons you feel are acceptable to surrender a dog back into rescue?

Do you think you can be patient & understanding with your new dog? Are you happy to allow them to settle in, all in THEIR own time & at THEIR own pace, no matter how long it takes? Do you feel ready for a 10 - 20 year commitment?

Perhaps now is a good time to review your written list & make some amendments.

Please also remember that if you're struggling with your new dog, a decent rescue will give you aftercare support. So always talk to them if you're encountering any problems. There's also a wide variety of help & information out there. You could for instance take your new dog to see a trainer or behaviourist or enroll in dog training classes. You can also do some research online & some reading. Meesh Masters, whom we have mentioned before during the "ROMANIAN / OVERSEAS RESCUE DOGS" section (see further down this page for more details) offers a wide range of very useful & informative free & paid for courses which are specifically designed for Romanian & overseas dog owners. To the same token, some of her resources might also prove useful to those who are considering a UK rescue dog. Her website can be found here:

https://www.thedogspointofview.com/?affiliate=nqTHUx

We sincerely hope that this blog has been 'food for thought' & useful to you. In our next few blogs in this series, we will be looking to help you honestly assess your own suitability for one of these special dogs, as well as your family, your home, & your garden environments. So, our forthcoming blogs will work hand in hand with this blog.

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These reasonably priced courses & webinars start from just £25 (& some are even FREE, no catch 😱🥰) & are specifically tailored towards Romanian & Overseas rescue dogs, however some of these courses might also prove useful & relevant for U.K. rescue dogs too, so well worth a look.

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Some topics covered include: 

🐶 fearfulness & social shyness, 

🐶 prey drive, 

🐶 building calmness & confidence, 

🐶 techniques to rebalance & calm,

🐶 reactivity on walks, 

🐶 reactivity with visitors, 

🐶 the quirky nature of Romanian dogs, 

🐶 how to set yourself up for a successful adoption.

The course & webinar content has been carefully constructed by Meesh Masters, who is an Holistic Canine Behaviour Consultant specialising in working with Romanian & Overseas rescue dogs. 'The Dogs Point of View' is committed to following the latest scientifically proven fear free methods.

Thank you so much for being here & for supporting Patchwork Paws U.K. 🐶

We always welcome your feedback, so please feel free to leave us a comment or email us. 🥰

📣 Please remember to always choose no harm, fear free, force free & non-aversive training methods based on mutual respect, trust & positive reinforcement. Please always consider that a behaviour that YOU might find undesirable might be quite normal behaviour to your dog, the behaviour might be motivated by a past trauma/fear, or it might be motivated by your dog's emotional response to something. Always treat your dog with love, patience, empathy, understanding & kindness - even if they do have toileting accidents or if they chew your favourite slippers. 📣🙏

📍 The dog behaviour & training world is largely unregulated here in the U.K. & not all are equal. Please do your homework & always choose a behaviourist or trainer carefully. Look at the methods of training they use & the stance they choose to adopt. Always check their qualifications, accreditations & references/feedback carefully. 📍

🐶 Pictured above is the late & great Zak, a U.K. rescue dog. 🙏💕 He had been surrendered back to rescue five times in five years. We were Zak's fifth & final home. Zak suffered terribly with separation anxiety, no doubt caused by changing homes so many times. 🐕

Infographic provided by League City Pets Alive & UKUSCA Doggie. See: https://www.ukuscadoggie.com/blogs/ukuscadoggie-articles/333-rule-of-adopting-a-dog